Therese Butuad
Ferrets are sensitive and prone to adverse reactions, underlining the importance to conduct safety studies for species-targeted vaccines development. This field study aimed to assess local and general safety of a new distemper vaccine specifically intended for ferrets (Musteligen, Virbac France). A total of 153 ferrets underwent vaccination (2 subcutaneous injections; D0 and D28) an were divided into 3-age groups (young: 8 & 9 week-old; adult: over 3 month-old). Criteria assesse by veterinarians, after each vaccination and during 42 days, were rectal temperature, bodyweight frequency and severity of the signs. Ferrets of 8 weeks of age had a significant lower bodyweight than 9-week old and adult ferrets. Temperatures and body weight remained stable throughout the study for all animals. A few 9-week-old and adult ferrets presented systemic reaction signs consisting in slight apathy, decreased appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea. Such transient signs spontaneously resolved within 1 to 9 days. Moderate swelling was observed at the injection site (≤1.5 cm; in [3-7]% of all animals) and was very rarely associated with pain [1.6-2]%; all local signs resolving within a day. Enlarged lymph nodes following vaccination were only found in 8-week-old ferrets (21-31%), associated with more common local and systemic signs than 9-week old and adult ferrets. This new vaccine was well tolerated, with observed reactions similar to those usually reported with parenteral vaccination. It was safe to use in ferrets over 9 weeks of age and above the recommended minimal weight (300 gr. for females vs . 350 gr. for males).
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